Once and for all

[jillar]

Yea @tocevoD it sounds like you're still getting a lot of nicotine between the patches and lozenges. I would worry you're getting too much nicotine using both and would encourage you to maybe try using just the lozenges since those sound like your preference. 

At any rate, the idea with patches and lozenges is to reduce your nicotine use over time and at four weeks I would think they would have started doing that. Just my opinion.....

[Minnie Mouse]

It's doable for you to remain smoke free long term.  None of us long timers are just "special" people.  We have the same time as you & everybody else who hasn't smoked today ... one day.  

 

I changed how I saw smoking in order to remain smoke free without having an ongoing struggle with it or to keep relapse/slips as an open option for myself.  I educated myself on nicotine addiction (it is not just a bad habit) to learn how addiction(s) work. 

 

I needed to understand what smoking did to my brain/mind/thought process and to my body systems.  I needed to find my willingness and free choice to not smoke no matter how I felt, what I thought, or what happened to me in life going forward.  The ongoing recovery process can include a bunch of self-discovery & personal changes (if you are open to it). 

 

Best Wishes. 

[Genecanuck]

On 10/4/2024 at 10:37 AM, tocevoD said:

Sorry for not posting Genecanuck. I'm at the place I need to be to get posting again now.today is my quit day. As mentioned in previous posts it's easier when I've got my son. Got him till Wednesday night next week. Going out for a drink, which I do rarely, is a gateway as is boredom which I have lots of. I need to occupy my time when my son is not with me. The determination is there again. When you go back to it you realise how it makes you feel. Heartburn, lethargy and wasting money. Time to get back on the train.

Hi @tocevoD... No need to appologize. I was checking in becasue i was concered and wanted to know how you are doing. Keep that determination you have to quit. Get back on the train with us and we will support you. I hope you are ok. Keep posting. Keep seeing support.  

[Genecanuck]

Good morning @tocevoD

 

I just read your thread and got caught up on your progress. Wow, good for you. You are making some good progress. Just keep it going my friend. 

 

 

[tocevoD]

Im not going to post durations anymore, just check in every so often and update that I'm still going strong. I think if I keep updating like a 1 week, 2 week, 3 week etc. etc. It is like I'm counting the days, whereas I'm not anymore. 

 

Anyway, no phone consultation this week. As I said last time I got 2 weeks worth of patches and lozenges to see me through the 2 weeks. I'm still on the patches daily, but the lozenge use is down. I find I don't need to be eating them as much as I was. I think it's about 3.or 4 lozenges a day now. I may at some point just buy a packet of non nicotine fruit lozenges and give them a go as I think it's the fruity taste I like more than the nicotine within. That's a plan for the next few days. 

 

Things are going well. I've got more energy now. I noticed when having a football kick around with my son. I had to walk up 10 flights of stairs in a block of flats yesterday with a smoker work colleague. He was puffing and panting at the top and I wasn't even out of breath. All noticeable things for me that are evidence of the progress made. I still haven't been back the gym. I need to get myself back in there but that's more of me finding the time than actually avoiding it. I have my son around a lot so squeezing gym sessions in around work and my son is hard at the moment. I've got a little exercise bike in the house so may try and fit in half an hour a day on that to start my fitness adventure and the gym can follow that. Small steps at the moment.

 

One thing I have noticed with every quit, and moreso with this. When I was a smoker I would bite my nails a lot. Now Ive got proper finger nails. The biting of the nails is a nervous smoker thing. The anxiety of the wait for the next ciggie making you go for the nails.

[Genecanuck]

Good morning @tocevoD Noticing that you have more energy is a nice benefit of not smoking. You are probably entering the phase of your quit where you have to work on relapse prevention. What are the little triggers in your world that you have to be aware of  that might catch you off guard? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

 

You have an awesome quit. Keep it going.

 

Here is a handy checklist regarding relapse symptoms that I picked up in Quitnet back in 2005.

 

Following is a checklist of relapse symptoms we can watch for: 

1. Exhaustion - Allowing oneself to become overly tired, usually associated with work addiction as an excuse for not facing personal frustrations.
2. Dishonesty - Begins with a pattern of little lies; escalated to self-delusion and making excuses for not doing what's called for.
3. Impatience - I want what I want NOW. Others aren't doing what I think they should or living the way I know is right.
4. Argumentative - No point is too small or insignificant not to be debated to the point of anger and submission.
5. Depression - All unreasonable, unaccountable despair should be exposed and discussed, not repressed: what is the "exact nature" of those feelings?
6. Frustration - Controlled anger/resentment when things don't go according to our plans. A lack of acceptance. See #3.
7. Self-pity - Feeling victimized, put-upon, used, unappreciated: convinced we are being singled out for bad luck.
8. Cockiness - Got it made. Know all there is to know. Can go anywhere, including frequent visits just to hang out at places that allow drinking\using.
9. Complacency - Like #8, no longer sees value of daily program, contact with other alcoholics\addicts, feels healthy, on top of the world, things are going well. Heck may even be cured!
10. Expecting too much of others - Why can't they read my mind? I've changed, what's holding them up? If they just do what I know is best for them? Leads to feeling misunderstood, unappreciated. See #6.
11. Letting up on disciplines - Allowing established habits of recovery slip out of our routines, allowing recovery to get boring and no longer stimulating for growth. Why bother? 
12. Wanting too much - Setting unrealistic goals: not providing for short-term successes; placing too much value on material success, not enough on value of spiritual growth.
13. Forgetting gratitude - Because of several listed above, may lose sight of the abundant blessings in our everyday lives. 
14. "It can't happen to me." - Feeling immune; forgetting what we know about the addiction and its progressive nature.
15. Omnipotence - A combination of several attitudes listed above; leads to ignoring danger signs, disregarding warnings and advice from fellow members
     

[Doreensfree]

Well done @tocevoD…Your doing great …upwards and onwards